FINDING YOUR OWN SOUND ON SAX 

An enjoyable and fast, though thorough, look at sax style and direction. After some twenty years of playing jazz I believe that time itself tends to form a player’s style unconsciously, just as flowing water smoothes and rounds pebbles. As the French say, style is the man himself...in the end you can only be who you are. Thank you for an enjoyable and incisive guide. Don W

i live on RU-vid searching and viewing anything saxophone related. Find myself always coming back to your vids. You have a wonderful instructional approach. THANK YOU !

13:40 absolutely! One influence on me is Vangelis' exciting keyboard soloing on Dervish D off the Spiral album and other solos on the Albedo 0.39 album. Such a pity he didn't do more albums like those two but I guess moody ambient tracks were more to his taste.

Ur tutorials are the best! Hands down!!!

Thanks, Scott. This is super helpful. You so often address topics that no one else deals with. This topic is a good one now for me because I'm trying to find some way to do improv that sounds interesting, has some kind of musical theme, and is more than scales. It's a hard leap to make to be expressive and not worry about hitting bad notes.

The best saxophone teacher i have ever seen in youtube thank you

Scott, another quality video. I really missed your videos while you were touring. Although I could see you had a good time I’m glad you’re back.

The very first video on RU-vid without a dislike

In my opinion you are the only sax tutor in RU-vid who is transferring knowledge. Your videos are top, and I am glad , as a late starter in the sax world, I found your channel. Thanks Scott.

Hey Scott, I like your breakdown of sound. I especially appreciate your comment about listening to vocalists. Saxophone is one of those instruments that mimics the human voice. As a suggestion for your next video (maybe you already have done this) is to describe your set up for a dark or bright sound. Thanks a million! You sound Great!

Thank you, very helpful!

Great video! Thanks!

Thanks Scott. Good tips.

Thank you, love this tips

Great explanation of a concept rarely discussed.

Scott, you explain the differences well. Nice job K

Thanks for this information it's so important

Thanks for making us look inside for our own answers. Well done!

Another fantastic lesson and great advice. Thank you for your time as usual 🎷🎷

Great exposition on this topic

Another excellent intuitive video, this 75 year old is really making progress following all your tips. I'm locked down here in Scotland so bags of time for practice. Stay well, stay safe.

Thanks a lot for your video, Scott! It guides me a lot to try to find out my own sound ☺️

enjoyed this video. very educational & enlightening, it gives food for thought. Thanks, Scott

Great tips! Thank you!

Super helpful! It was especially useful to hear your examples of different styles. Thanks!

Thank you buddy. I learn a lot and I appreciate that. have great luck.

Scott, thanks for the theme of this video. It helped me understand that there is no one way to articulate correctly and that this is an important choice when playing. Thank you!

This channel has helped me an embarrassing amount haha thanks man!

Top saxplayer!!!

Thank you Scott for this and all your videos. Another great video of yours. 🎼🎵🎶🎷

Good information 🎷👍🏽

Very informational!

Really awesome video man! Your channel is a great resource!

Love it! Thank you!

Great and informative video as usual, Scott. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

Very helpful lessons indeed Scott...always nice to watch your sax lessons

Great teacher, great explanation!!! Congrats! Your channel rocks!

Hi Scott, I just love all of your content, very informative and engaging. Thank you!

Great take and insights on a topic that is an ocean of possibilities!

Great demonstration. The articulation part was very enlightening!

Another excellent lesson

Terrific presentation.. I play flute for years and want to learn sax..very good tips that are applicable to flute playing as well

Great vid, thanks for the insights and tips.

Hi, thank you so much for your videos! I like the way you explain things, brake it into very clear parts, and giving examples of how it sounds. For me, that is a very good way to learn, and I have already learned a lot from you.

Way back in the day in my early 20s I remember talking with a sax guy in a combo band. He told me that he listened to guitar players a lot for inspiration. I JUST discovered Doreen Ketchens (sp?) about two months ago and am thoroughly impressed with her skills on the clarinet! Thanks for the video. Still trying to nail down what my “sound” is and if I want to change it.

Great tutorial again. 👍 Makes me step back and look at what I do and move it around a bit, tweek it.🎷🎷

Thank you

I totally agree with you. Personally I’m very bright and I have been greatly influenced by the electric guitar in classic rock and blues so those riffs and sounds you can hear in my playing but when I’m playing the melody Aretha Franklin/Freddie Mercury seems to show through a bit and that’s part of playing lyrically.

Thank you Mr. Scott, Now I really can decide my favorite "bright" sound as my main sound...

Exceptionally interesting and useful video, even though I'm looking to end up on the dark side. The Ella comment was fascinating. I guess I'm not going to get much from McCoy Tyner or Brad Mehldau but maybe there's something in say Alex Lifeson's soloing that I could steal. And I'll think more about those elements you mention.

Thanks a lot! really good tips, great video as always! Greetings from Bolivia :)

I love your bright funky sound. I too endeavour for a similar sound being a Maceo Parker fan. These videos are great being on Lockdown in GB.

I’m so pleased you touched on this subject. It’s given me an understanding as to where I am in my playing ( dark ) . Being somewhat older in age, I tend to play the standards and the slower pieces, almost crooning through my alto. Trying to simulate the style of Chris Botti on the trumpet.... 🙏🎷🙏🎷🙏 your posts are always so thorough.

Ive been learning for the past 2 years ..... late to the party at 51, but this was really informative and well delivered. Thanks Scott.

Awesome video

Exelent.

Scott ... Not only is this yet another HIGH QUALITY "Vutorial" produced by you ... It is one of my absolute favorites! Thank you so much for opening up this discussion and adding meat to the bones of such a crucial subject that many experienced saxophonists seem to avoid and novice to intermediate ones are lost about. In the three years of learning to play the saxophone, I became concerned about finding my own sound but I did not know what that really meant. It became clearer when I read the book "Developing A Personal Saxophone Sound" by David Liebman (fantastic read) but it was not a conversation and so, I had no feedback. Recently, a very experienced and accomplished professional remarked to me that they are able to identify me because I have been developing my own sound. I was not sure what that meant though it was offered as a compliment. You started this discussion with an explanation of what defines a personal sound and this has certainly helped be unequivocally identify what I have been sculpting for myself. This was an absolutely fascinating and important session. THANK YOU! Could you put a part two of this vutorial together and talk about things like: vocabulary, motivic playing, chord changes, release and tension, melodic devices and of course sound effects (I thought of Joshua Redman when typed that). Excellent content, man! Keep safe and be well! I am returning to the "dark side" for now ... ;-)

Man you are great 🌼🌺🌹

This is so important Scott - I ripped up the rule book and developed my own - trying to play freely - I started on the P Mauriat 67 Rx but love the darker sound of the 66RX recentlty picked up -- great video thanks for posting always interesting

10:43 reminder to practice this...

Nice tutorial about sound Padlock also the type of saxophone you play determines your sound alto and soprano is higher bright sounding and tenor and baritone is more darker

Thank you!!!!!!!

Hi Scott...thank-you for the advice in this video. With the time I've been afforded due to our current circumstances. I've picked up my soprano again (I had been focusing on alto). I find soprano requires a more "gentle" touch, however, I often revert to the way I have been playing alto. I would appreciate any suggestions you could offer for adapting to the soprano. Thank-you again for sharing. I pray you and those you love stay safe, healthy, optimistic and strong. ...peace & blessings... G

Thanks Scott for that excellent info on getting your own sound! I tend to be more like the sound you lean towards which is that Bright sound (though I am no where near your level of playing LoL. I haven't been playing vary long) I listen to Lenny Pickett alot ( your playing reminds of) Another Sax player I really like his sound alot is Jr. Walker on songs like What does it take " and his Solo on the song Urgent by Foreigner your playing reminds of that solo as well. Didn't mean to ramble on.... Keep up the Excellent channel Scott! Cheers!

Commenting to help your video place better

good point design bright or dark in my case it would keep me between the two. and correction I do not intend to imitate

So good explanation master! Regards!!

Scott, I think you presented a very intuitive take on playing style. I feel you could have added 'motivation.' As a musician, what emotional effect are you attempting to produce with your music and style of playing? I suppose that is why there is no limit to how one can play the 12.

Stunning sound... how do you mix your sound and what DAW do you use?

Hi Scott I am so glad U put this video video out. I like the dark side but like metal M/P Who make dark metal mouthpiece would you recc I could try for soprano. I would love to give you a million thumbs up BUT.

That was actually a really interesting video .. thanks. Do you have a video talking more about gear ? You went through it very quickly regarding the mouthpiece .. but I think it would be very useful to have a more in-depth look and different mouthpiece styles and the different effect they can have on sound and playing. I’ve been watching you videos for a while now and they are always good, I always manage to take something out of them to my practice room. Thanks Scott keep them coming. Martin

Always enjoy your Vids Scott. I believe you have a Barkley Brazil Kustom Pop. I have one too. Is there any difference between the Blue, and the Red one.

Hey Scott, I would love a tutorial on switching between notes, my notes sound dry at times, when playing a melody that there are pauses in between, I don’t just feel that sleek connect between the notes

Hello Scott... am a subscriber of yours. A have watched most of your videos, very interesting and helpful. Is there any chance to take a private class from you through internet.

Interesting vid -- it's frustrating to play and not have it sound like it is in your ear! I have already resolved to make that a 'me' issue and not a 'gear' issue though (mpc, reeds etc)...spent WAY too long with the latter on guitar to discover it was mostly the former.

Scott, Iam a devoted subscriber.You are a incredible player and teacher without a doubt . Your main ax seems to be alto , which I can appreciate . Just wondering what you think about tenor I have always felt it has more of a voice than alto Thanks JS

Interesting thoughts Scott, so thanks. Are you consistent across different horns? I'm still developing my personal sound, but I like to play dark and slurred on tenor, but somewhat brighter and more articulated on alto.

You never talk about smooth jazz. The way to play smooth jazz, mouth piece, ways of playing smooth jazz etc. I need a video.

Great topic Thanks Dick

How does the make and model of the saxophone influence darkness and brightness? I think I'm beginning to understand how internal designs of mouthpieces and application of reeds affect tone. But when I listen to comparisons among saxophones, the same player might yield slight differences in tone between them, but perhaps larger differences in embellishments and delivery. Is there really tonal difference caused by saxophone design?

I’ve developed my sound by playing with better players and trying to sound somewhat like them. Better players make me play better. I personally like the smoother, darker, flowing sound. My main goal is to keep my tone steady and sounding full.

Hi Scott, I have definitely been playing on the bright side. I have a very bright metal mouthpiece with a step baffle. I find it works for most styles of music I like to play. But sometimes I just can't get the sound I want when playing a smoother jazz tune or a ballad. I have considered having two setups. One that is bright and another that is more towards dark. Is this common practice or should I just stick with the one mouthpiece and try and be as versatile with it as I can?

Thanks, Scott. I played a Selmer Serie III throughout middle and high school (I think I got it around 2003). Honestly, I didn't take it seriously enough back then, but would like to get back into it now. However, I'm seeing a lot of people online claiming it's designed for dark, "classical" music and isn't ideal for jazz. Is that bs or is there any truth to a sax being "classical?" Also, I find myself drawn to brighter sax tones. If my horn is darker than others, can I overcome that with a bright, metal mouthpiece or would I be better off selling it and getting a new horn? Thanks!

Hi Scott! I really like to get a P. Mauriat 67r, but they said these horn has bad intonation, its that true and what can we do to make in tune, cause I really like the sound, thank you

ALSO the difference between BALLADS and smooth jazz. Is it the same?

Hi Scott. I'm kind of confused of what dark vs bright sound is. You said that you sound bright, but the bright sound to me is like a 'french horn sound', a round sound. I thought you sound dark and not bright. Maybe I mixed the terminology? I researched online about dark vs bright sound and mostly the explanations are opposite of what your description are as to dark/bright sounds. Any thought about this?

I had understood that the sound like the voice is typical of birth. example I never. I think it could sound like desxter, stan getd etc I continue watching the video thanks

What kind of mouthpiece are you using for Alto?

What do you Think about leo p and Derek Brown

You left out Mindi Abair. Can you dissect her style?

The audio levels between the intro, and the content is really off. Great video though. I opted for a brighter sound personally. Pretty sold on the tone of Berg Larsen pieces/that type of baffling (and step baffles). Have definitely been influenced by your tone personally Scott--despite playing Tenor.

How much are your Skype lessons? How much for an hour long lesson?

I think Kenny G is Great,

How can I sound like phil woods? Any ideas?

Noooo, you're getting older 😭

both are bad. I mean exaggerated when the sound is bright or dark etc.